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Diary of National Events (October 1998 - September 1999) OCTOBER 1 Saudi Arabia and Equador are added to the list of countries receiving data from India’s Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites. 2 A team of Indian, German and American scientists discovers evidence of worm-like animals in rocks of Central India believed to be one billion years old. 3 World’s first commercial video-e-mail, developed by the National Association of Software and Service Companies is inaugurated in the Public Telephone Office in Jaunpur, UP. 4 Non-resident Indian industrialist Lord Swaraj Paul, is appointed Chairman of the Business Council of Parliamentarians for Global Action in New York. 5 Nuclear scientist Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is selected for the 1997 Indira Gandhi Award
for National Integration. 6 A five-year National Agricultural Technology Project involving an outlay of Rs 861 crore is launched. _ Railways win National Women’s Hockey championship for the 15th time in a row, defeating Haryana 5-1 in Chennai. 7 National Task Force on Information Technology set up on 22 May to submit its report within 90 days is given extension till year-end. 8 Sixteen policemen killed in a landmine explosion by naxalites on the Basaguda -Jagargunda road in Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh. _ India is elected to the Council of International Civil Organisation in Montreal. 9 Three Indian projects bag the 1998 Aga Khan Awards for Architecture amongst 424 international architectural nominations. 10 Justice Adarsh Sein Anand is sworn in the new Chief Justice of India. 11 National Thermal Power Corporation cuts off power supply to eastern region following the non-payment of dues to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore. 12 Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Sushma Swaraj, is sworn in Chief Minister of National Capital Territory of Delhi, replacing Sahib Singh. _ India’s duo, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi win the doubles of the Open ATP tournament in Shanghai, China. _ Film star Salman Khan is arrested in Jodhpur under the Protection of Wildlife Act in connection with the killing of two black bucks and an antelope. 13 The Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, arrives in New Delhi on a two-day official visit. _ The founder-chairman of Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company, B.R. Barwale, bags the 2,50,000 dollar World Food Prize for helping develop the role of private enterprises in Indian agriculture. 14 Internationally famed Economist, Professor Amartya Sen (64), becomes the sixth Indian and the first Asian to win the Nobel prize for Economics. _ Prakash Bhasin Awards are presented to 19 scientists for excellence in Science and Technology in New Delhi. _ The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, launches ‘National work improvement campaign’ while presenting Shram Awards in New Delhi. 15 A three-day Conference and Congress of International Federation for Information and Documentation opens in New Delhi with the participation of 1,000 professionals from India and abroad. _ The Supreme Court issues a judgement saying an employer cannot terminate service after condoning absence. 16 The death toll in the flood affected areas of Andhra Pradesh goes up to 72. _ Promila Balasundaram, founder-director of Samadhan project for the mentally retarded is presented with an award in the World Congress at Hague, Netherlands. 17 Dr Palanivelu becomes the first Indian surgeon to win the best paper presentation
award for the treatment of gall-stone disease by laparoscopic methods at the sixth World
Congress of Surgeons in Rome. 18 Indian software exports register a growth rate of 67 per cent in rupee terms and 55
per cent in dollar terms in 1997-98. 22 Indigenous Hepatitis B vaccine launched in Hyderabad. Promoted by NRI scientist Krishna M Ella, the vaccine is developed using the recombinant DNA technology. 23 The Economic Times awards for Corporate Excellence 1998 presented in Mumbai. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu is honoured with ‘Business Person of the Year’ award. 24 The Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announces a 16-point policy to boost economy in the 71st session of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi. 25 The President of Bulgaria Peter Stoyanov arrives in New Delhi on a two-day official
visit. 28 An ordinance is promulgated to make the Central Vigilance Commission a four-member body of experts amending the one issued on 25 August this year. _ The Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee presents Swarna Jayanti Awards for 1997-98 to 11 young scientists in New Delhi. _ Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) launches Cyber-dhabas in Delhi and Mumbai. 29 Indian students win one gold and three bronze medals in the third Astronomy Olympiad held in Moscow from 20-26 October. 30 The Election Commission notifies Assembly polls for Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
and Mizoram. _ Air Marshal A.Y. Tipnis (58) is appointed the next Chief of the Air Staff. _ Prof Sujeet Shenoi of Computer Science at the University of Tulsa Oklahoma, USA is
selected by Carnegie Foundation for the national award advancement of teaching. 1 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurates Bangalore IT COM-98 and announces to issue licences to private Internet Service Providers and setting up of Vidya Vahini Network to link Universities, UGC and CSIR. _ President K.R. Narayanan inaugurates the 10th International Congress on Immunology in New Delhi. Over 2,000 scientists from 67 countries participate in the Congress. _ NCERT is nominated for 1998 UNESCO award for excellence in education. _ Indian space scientist Pritiranjan Sen Gupta is honoured with the Man of the Year Award, by the American Biographical Institute. 3 The task force on Information Technology in its report recommends tax concessions including a six-year tax holiday for promoting manufacture and export of computer equipment. _ India’s first Geoscientific Data Centre is inaugurated in Calcutta. This will serve as the largest repository of knowledge on earth satellites of Asia, Australia and Africa. _ Hindi Chair is set up in Bucharest University, the oldest in South East Europe. 4 Paramjit Singh (26) of Punjab Police breaks the record of Milka Singh in 400 metres by .03 seconds at the National Athletics Championship in Calcutta. _ India produces a world record of over 750 films a year as against 320 films by the US. 5 The Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on Tulbul-barrage project resume in New Delhi. _ President K.R. Narayanan inaugurates the two-day seminar on ‘World Unity in Buddha’s Tri-Ratna’ at Saranath attended by scholars, economists, theologists and monks from India and abroad. _ India win four-nation men’s hockey title defeating Bangladesh 2-0 at Bangkok. _ Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announces a grant of Rs 100 crore for tri-centenary celebrations of Khalsa Panth beginning from April next year. _ The Union Government approves the modified Crop Insurance Scheme. The scheme covering farmers and crops will be effective from the next Kharif crop. _ Family Planning Association of India, Bhopal is chosen by International Planned Parenthood Federation for this year’s ‘Global Vision 2000’ award for its strategies for population control. 6 Koneru Humpy(11) wins gold medal for India defeating compatriot Tania Sachdeva in the under-12 World Youth Chess Championships in Castellon, Spain. 7 US Government decides to ease sanctions imposed after nuclear tests at Pokhran following the progress in non-proliferation talks with India. 8 India leads in milk output in the world producing 74 million tonnes during 1998-99 according to National Dairy Development Board. _ Jamanlal Bajaj awards are presented by the Prime Minister to five persons including Gandhian, Jharna Dhara Chaudhary of Bangladesh for constructive activities. _ India’s duo, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi win 2.25 million dollar Paris indoor doubles tennis title in Paris. _ Fossils of three-billion-year-old algae, oldest in the country are discovered at Kashia region of Orissa. _ The Mumbai-based Health Education Library for People becomes the only site on web having searchable data-base Indian hospitals, doctors, medical libraries and medical colleges. 9 India is elected to lead the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) for the next two years at Hobart, Australia. _ India is set to join AIDS vaccine trial. Developed under international collaboration, the vaccine would be ready for trial in two years. 12 India-Pakistan secretary-level talks begin in New Delhi to discuss concerns on terrorism, drug-trafficking and visa liberalisations. _ India ranks next to China in silk production with total raw silk around 15,190 metric tonnes and non-mulberry silk 1,155 metric tonnes in 1997-98. _ Sixteen leading fashion institutes from nine countries sign a MOU to set up an International Foundation for Fashion Technology in New Delhi. 13 India-Pakistan talks conclude with a decision to start Delhi-Lahore bus service and to meet again on 20 November. _ India lift Coca-Cola cup defeating Zimbabwe by 10 wickets at Sharjah. 14 President K.R. Narayanan inaugurates the 18th International Trade Fair 1998 in New Delhi. 5000 Indian and 150 foreign firms participate. _ India’s resolution on ‘reducing nuclear dangers’ is adopted in the United Nations. _ The Union Government announces the setting up of a National Commission for Children. 15 A three-day conference of India G-77 is inaugurated in New Delhi. 16 The Academic Director of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Kapila Vatsyayan is honoured with the Congress of Research on Dance award-1998 in Columbas, Ohio, USA.. 17 West Bengal emerges overall champion in the 38th Inter-State Athletic Championships in Calcutta. Men’s and Women’s teams titles go to Punjab and West Bengal respectively. 18 MTNL introduces a pre-paid card facility for telephone users and toll-free services for customers in Delhi and Mumbai. _ Construction of two million houses annually for the economically weaker sections and low income groups is launched in all the States. 19 Indira Gandhi Memorial Chanakya Award is conferred on a Panamian diplomat Mirta Saavedra in New Delhi. _ The Union Government ceasefires unilaterally against the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) for two months from 15 November. 20 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development-1998 is conferred on Dr Mohammed Yunus, the Chairman of Grammen Bank, Dhaka. 22 The tri-centenary celebrations of Khalsa Panth begin at Anandpur Sahib where the Khalsa was formed on 13 April 1699. _ The Prime Minister inaugurates the first-phase of Hi-tech city having the video conference facility in Hyderabad. 23 The Union Cabinet approves the opening of insurance business in India to private participation including foreign equity participation at 40 per cent. _ The President, K.R.Narayanan inaugurates the 1st International Congress on Agronomy in New Delhi. 25 58 per cent voters cast their votes in 626 Assembly Constituencies in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram. 26 In a train accident at Kauri village between Khanna-Chawapali railway stations in Punjab, 112 passengers are killed. _ The Indian Health Organisation, a NGO, is nominated for the Annemarie Madison Award-1999 for fighting against AIDS globally. _ Uranium and thorium deposits are found in Singhbhum district of Bihar and coastal plains of Kerala and Orissa. _ Dr D. Jayavarthanavelu, Chairman and Managing Director of Coimbatore-based Lakshmi Machine Works Limited, becomes the first Asian to be World President of Textile Institute, Manchester, UK. _ ‘Honest Man of the Year’ award for 1997 is presented to the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by the Vice President Krishan Kant in New Delhi. _ Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro is elected the Chief Minister of Goa following the resignation of Wilfred Desouza. 27 Dr Amrita Patel becomes the Chairman of National Dairy Development Board. _ The United States environmental agency, EPA honours the "Eco-Frig" project in India for safeguarding the ozone layer. The project is a joint effort of India, Germany and Switzerland in the field of producing cooling devices. 28 The Congress sweeps the Assembly polls in Delhi and Rajasthan, retains its power in Madhya Pradesh but loses in Mizoram. _ The Prime Minister constitutes a 22-member Security Advisory Board to assist the National Security Council. _ India’s Sujata Sankaranti of Kerala wins the Commonwealth Short Story Competition, 1998 in the Asia-Pacific region for her story, The Warp and the Weft. _ South Africa lift the world cup cricket trophy for the blind defeating Pakistan by 10 wickets in New Delhi. DECEMBER 1 Twenty lakh new assesses have filed Income Tax Returns in current financial year. _ The 18th India International Trade Fair (IITF)-98 awards for excellence are presented in New Delhi in six categories. 3 Conferring the National Awards on the Disabled in New Delhi, the Prime Minister announces a National Trust for the Handicapped with a corpus of Rs 100 crore. _ The Asian Development Bank approves a 250-million dollar loan to India to finance a water supply project in Rajasthan. _ The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) issues Internet licences to 19 private
companies. _ The Union government refers back the Hindi version of the feature film Fire winner of 14 international awards to the Central Board for Film Certification for re-examination. 7 The Union government launches the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana to provide gainful employment to the urban unemployed living below the poverty line. 8 Noted music composer and Dada Saheb Phalke award winner Bhupen Hazarika is appointed the Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi. _ ‘Indian Post Through Ages’ authored by Dr H. Noor Ahmed of Andhra Pradesh wins silver medal at the World Philatelic exhibition Italia at Rome. _ India’s largest air show, ‘Aero India 98’ is inaugurated in Bangalore. Over 100 aeronautical firms from 17 countries take part in the five-day event. _ AIADMK snaps ties with its allies MDMK, PMK and TRC except Janata Party. 9 Sangeet Natak Akademi awards for 1997 are presented to 24 artists in New Delhi by the President K.R. Narayanan. _ The Indian entry The Terrorist in the 22nd Cairo International Film Festival wins Golden Pyramid Award. Santosh Sivan and Ayesha Dharker bag the Best Director and Best Actress award respectively . 10 Prof. Amartya Sen is conferred the Nobel Prize in Economics for his contributions to Welfare Economics. _ The Public Sector Undertaking Indian Oil Corporation wins three National Conservation Awards-1998 in the refinery sector. _ Noted film director Shekhar Kapur is chosen for the best director award for his film Elizabeth by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, New York. 11 Poet and lyricist Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi popularly known as Kavi Pradeep (83) passes away in Mumbai. He was honoured with Dada Saheb Phalke award for 1997-98 and National Integration Award in 1993. _ India gets a two-million-dollar grant from United Nations as technical support in AIDS-related activities in the country. 12 India is poised to become one of the world’s ‘wind super powers’ in the next millennium with a target production of 20,000 MW of power. India currently produces 992 MW of wind power and ranks fourth in the world. 16 The 18th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica led by Dr Ajay Dhar of Indian Institute of Geomagnetism is flagged off at Marmagao. The 60-member team with 40 scientists from 20 national institutes includes three women for the first time. _ India-born German photographer Jay Ullal is awarded the German President’s medal for his photo-reporting, stories on humanity and war. _ Dalip Singh Bhuria, a tribal leader is appointed Chairman of the reconstituted National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 17 The Assam Government enacts a law making ragging in educational institutions a criminal offence. - India stands fourth after Japan, China and South Korea to send 32,000 of the 4,81,280 foreign students at American Universities. 18 With the enhancement of retirement age of Central government employees, a saving of Rs4,300 crore is estimated in the pension expenditure in the current fiscal year. _ Supreme Court advocate Abhishek Singhvi has been selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Leaders for Tomorrow’. 19 A five-member committee with the Defence Minister George Fernandes as convenor has been formed to look into the use of emergency powers under the Article 356 of the Constitution. 20 The Prime Minister of Russia Yevgeny Primakov arrives in New Delhi on a two-day official visit. _ India displays her best performance in Bangkok Asian Games after 1982 Delhi Asiad winning 7 gold, 11 silver and 17 bronze medals and emerges 9th in total medal tally amongst 33 nations. 21 India and Russia sign seven long-term bi-lateral agreements including military technical cooperation. _ Viswa Bharati University felicitates Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen conferring the Deshikottama award. _ Shekhar Kapur along with four others is nominated for this year’s Golden Globe Award as best director for his English feature film Elizabeth. 22 The Patents (Amendments) Bill, 1998 is passed by the Rajya Sabha. _ The Union government directs all the Central ministries/departments to cut their Plan expenditure by 10 per cent this year. 23 Veteran freedom fighter and socialist leader Jaiprakash Narayan popularly known as
Lok Nayak awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously. 24 Cash awards of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh for the gold, silver and bronze medalists respectively of Bangkok Asian Games, are announced in New Delhi. 27 The President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunga arrives in New Delhi on a three-day official visit. 28 India and Sri Lanka sign a Free Trade Agreement under which the former would phase out tariffs within three years, and the later within eight years. _ Mumbai based Navneet Publications (India) Limited launches the first interactive CD-ROM making it the first comprehensive Indian website for children. 29 The Kar Vivad Samadhan Scheme launched on 1 September 1998 nets Rs 650 crore revenue collection. _ The Union Government sets up a National Coastal Zone Management Authority to protect and improve the coastal environment. 30 The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat is dismissed from the service. Vice-Admiral Sushil Kumar takes over as the new Chief. 31 R.K. Raghavan is appointed as Director of the CBI. JANUARY 1999 1 The Union government announces a cut in the rates of interest from 10 per cent to 9 per cent on small savings schemes. _ Former Chief Justice of India P.N.Bhagawati is included in a six-member panel set up by the Organisation of African Unity to investigate the genocide of one million people in Rwanda in 1994. — Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis takes over as the new Chief of the Air Staff. 3 The Prime Minister inaugurates 86th Session of Indian Science Congress in Chennai. The theme is New Biosciences - Opportunities and Challenges. _ The Supreme Court directs 16 State governments to file affidavits to set up Lok Ayukts to curb corruption at political and bureaucratic levels. 5 India and Nepal sign a new Transit Treaty in Kathmandu to facilitate the movement of Nepalese Transit Cargo at the Calcutta port. 7 President K.R. Narayanan repromulgates the Prasar Bharati Amendment Ordinance 1999, repealing the 1998 Ordinance and gives continued effect to its provision. 8 The Union government announces a 10 per cent cut in diesel price. _ The President inaugurates international conference celebrating ‘Chandigarh - 50 Years of the Idea’ 700 eminent architects, town planners and critics participate in 3-day conference at Chandigarh. _ The Union government sanctions Rs 110.23 crore for modernisation of Police Forces in
seven States of north-eastern region. - India win the inaugural SAARC Golf Championship defeating Sri Lanka 2-1 in Bangalore. 11 The Union Government issues an ordinance repealing the Urban Land Ceiling (Regulation) Act 1976 to facilitate housing activities and development of the infrastructure sector. 13 The Union Cabinet approves the National Policy for Older Persons and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card Scheme. 15 Italian film maestro Bernardo Bertolucci gets first Lifetime Achievement Award in Cinema instituted by the Union government in Hyderabad. 16 Gul Panag (20) of Delhi is crowned as Femina Miss India Universe 1999 at Pune. 17 The second dose of vaccine to eradicate polio by 2000 AD is administered in the country. 18 Indian Railways bag the National Tourism Award 1997-98 for ‘The Fairy Queen’ project. _ The Union government announces its decision to confer Bharat Ratna, the highest
civilian award, on Nobel Laureate Dr Amartya Sen. 25 King Birendra of Nepal arrives in New Delhi to be the guest of honour at the Republic Day Parade. _ President K.R. Narayanan expresses serious concern over the recent campaign against religious minorities in the country. 26 President K.R. Narayanan takes the salute of the 49th annual Republic Day parade. _ Lata Mangeshkar, Verghese Kurien, Ashok Kumar, Sachin Tendulkar, Devendra Triguna, Natwar Thakkar, H.D. Shourie and three top scientists connected with Pokhran tests selected for Padma Vibhuhan and Padma Bhushan awards. 30 Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and late Gopinath Bordoloi, freedom fighter and architect of modern Assam, are chosen for the Bharat Ratna honour. 31 Madan Lal Khurana, the Union Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs Minister resigns. _ Manohar Joshi quits as Maharashtra Chief Minister. FEBRUARY 1 High tax rates on cigarettes declines the consumption by 4 per cent in 1998-99. - The Union government announces the year 1999 as "Sanskrit year". 3 The Union government announces the changing of base year from 1980- 81 to 1993-94 to calculate the various indices of the economy. 5 Rajesh Gopal, field director of Kanha National Park, (MP) bags the World Wide Fund Tiger Conservation Award 1997-98. 6 The Prime Minister leaves for three-nation tour to Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Morocco. 7 Leg spinner Anil Kumble claims ten wickets for 74 runs against Pakistan winning the match by 212 runs in Delhi. 8 India calls for enhancing market access to developing countries at the trade and economics ministers’ conference of G-15 nations at Montego Bay, Jamaica. _ Nai Duniya a Hindi daily published from Indore launches the first free web-based Hindi e-mail service, e-patra. _ Former Chief of Army Staff, General K. Sunderji (69) dies in New Delhi. 9 The Union Cabinet recommends imposition of President’s Rule in Goa following the resignation of the Chief Minister, Luzinho Faleiro. _ The Orissa Chief Minister J.B.Patnaik resigns owning moral responsibility to the spate of violence against minorities in the State. _ Shekhar Kapur’s English feature film Elizabeth receives seven Oscar nominations including best film for the year 1998. 10 Gopi Chand of Andhra Pradesh and Aparna Popat of Karnataka win National Badminton finals in New Delhi. 12 President’s rule imposed in Bihar following the breakdown of constitutional machinery in the State. 13 The President confers the Gandhi Peace Prize for 1998 on the Ramakrishna Mission in
Calcutta. 15 Giridhar Gomango, a Member of Parliament replaces J.B. Patnaik as the new Chief Minister of Orissa. 16 Bharat Ratna award is conferred on Pandit Ravi Shankar, Prof. Amartya Sen and posthumously on Jaiprakash Narayan and Gopinath Bardoloi in New Delhi. 17 India is set to cross the record 200-million tonne mark in agriculture production during the current fiscal year. _ India and Pakistan sign an agreement in Islamabad envisaging bus service between Lahore and New Delhi four times a week. 18 Ace shooter Jaspal Rana creates a world record in central fire pistol event in the 5th National Games at Imphal registering 591 points. _ The Supreme Court rules that both the father and the mother should be treated equally as the natural guardians of their minor child under the Hindu Minority and Guardianship (HMG) Act. _ India and Bangladesh sign an agreement in New Delhi for introduction of bus service from Calcutta to Dhaka. 20 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee makes two-day bus journey to Pakistan and talks with Pakistani Prime Minister on bilateral issues. _ India sets up a nuclear safety research institute under Atomic Energy Regulatory Board at Kalpakkam,Tamil Nadu. 21 India and Pakistan sign ‘Lahore declaration’ and Memorandum of Understanding to boost confidence building measures in nuclear and conventional fields. _ The film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai bags four awards in the 44th Filmfare Awards in Mumbai. 22 The Budget Session of Parliament begins. _ Hindi feature film Dil Se shares the Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema Award with 2 H of Japan at the Berlin International Film Festival. 23 Swimmer Nisha Millet (17) from Bangalore wins 14 gold medals in the 5th National Games at Imphal. 24 The Economic Survey 1998-99 presented in Parliament projects an estimated growth of 5.8 per cent in the current fiscal year. _ India defeat Pakistan 3-2 in the ninth and final hockey test series at Lahore. 25 The Railway Budget for 1999-2000 presented in Parliament proposes hike in upper class fares and a four per cent hike in freight rates in all commodities. _ The Union Government is to provide 2.5 crore new telephone connections under the Ninth Five Year Plan. _ The fifth National Games conclude at Imphal with Manipur as champion on points, Nisha
Millet and Sebastian Xavier as best sportswoman and sportsman. Kerala tops in medals tally
winning 52 gold, 34 silver and 22 bronze. MARCH 1 The National Literacy Mission aims at making 100 million persons functionally
literate from the present 72.56 million in the age group of 15-35 in a time-bound manner. 3 India commemorates the 25th year of the launch of Project Tiger _ The Pune-based software organisation, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) releases a software to send e-mail in all the major Indian languages. _ The indigenously built multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka is successfully test-fired
from the Interim Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea in Orissa. 8 President’s rule imposed in Bihar on 12 February is revoked. _ The Union government approves Rs 261 crore for continuance of the revised scheme of National Child Labour Projects during the Ninth Plan. _ Satellite based village public telephones are to be installed by the Department of
Telecommunication in remote and inaccessible areas during 1999-2000. _ All India Radio covers 97.3 per cent population and 90 per cent area whereas Doordarshan covers 87.6 per cent population and 72.9 per cent area. _ The Union Government announces three cash awards of Rs one-lakh for a woman biologist and Rs 50,000 each for two bio-scientists below 45 years, which will be presented on the International Women’s Day every year. _ The National Open School, the largest open learning institution in the world, bags
the Commonwealth of Learning Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement in Distance
Education. 13 The Union Government takes a decision to celebrate the year 1999- 2000 (Yugabda 5101) as the year of Sanskrit. _ The Governor of Bihar S. S. Bhandari is appointed as the Governor of Gujarat. _ The Patents (amendment) Bill providing marketing rights to foreign companies in pharmaceuticals and agro-chemicals is approved by the Parliament. 14 Four crore children below five years are given polio drops under the Pulse Polio
Immunisation programme in the country. _ The Karnataka state road transport corporation introduces online reservation system. 16 The first commercial Bus service between Delhi and Lahore begins. 17 The reinstated Government in Bihar headed by Rabri Devi of RJD wins the vote of
confidence. _ Indian Agricultural Research Institute develops the country’s first bybrid basmati rice. _ The Union Government decides to raise the rates of DAVP advertisements in newspapers and periodicals by 30 per cent from 1 January 1999. 18 The Prime Minister inaugurates Doordarshan Sports Channel at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. _ Activists of outlawed Maoist Communist Centre kill 32 persons at Senari village of Jehanabad district in Bihar. - Inaugurating the 21st session of the SAARC Foreign Ministers’ meet at Nuwara Eliya near Colombo, President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumarantunga hails the Indo-Pak Summit in Lahore. _ Delhi based IBEX Expeditions, the first Indian firm is honoured with the annual Green Globe award in Berlin for environmental achievements. 19 Prime Minister dedicates two Insurance Schemes, Rajrajeshwari and Bhagyashree to the nation with an objective of providing safety net to the destitute women in New Delhi. _ Both Houses of Parliament pass seven bills before being adjourned. _ Oil India Limited finds new oil reserves in the Upper Assam basin. 22 The Union Government approves a scheme to present PARAM 10000 Supercomputers to 12 premier educational institutions including all IITs. _ The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-P3) completes three years in orbit. _ India and Pakistan exchange 57 civilian prisoners at Wagah border in Punjab. _ Shekhar Kapur’s English film, Elizabeth wins an Oscar award in the make-up category at the 71st Annual Academy Awards presentation ceremony. _ Punjab and railways retain the men’s and women’s titles respectively in the
49th National Basketball championship at Jaipur. 29 A major earthquake kills over 100 people and leaves a trail of destruction in Chamoli, Rudraprayag and adjoining districts of UP hills. _ India finish runners up in women’s team rankings of the Commonwealth weighlifting campionship at Melbourne with seven gold and one silver medals 30 Prime Minister launches ‘Explore India Millennium Year’ celebrations in New Delhi. 31 The revised Export - Import (Exim) Policy for 1999-2000 is announced. _ The Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) Card costing 1000 dollar is launched by the Union Government. _ Chameli Devi Jain Award for outstanding women media persons is presented to Vasavi of Ranchi and Pamela Philipose of Delhi in New Delhi. APRIL 1 The Union Government takes a decision to observe 1999-2000 as the year of Gram Sabha beginning from April. _ India concedes defeat to Pakistan by seven wickets in the last league of the one day triangular cricket series at Mohali, Punjab. 2 The Central Pollution Control Board says, at least 2,000-3,000 tonnes of garbage is generated every day in metropolitan cities. 3 India launches INSAT-2E by Ariane-42P vehicle of Arianespace from Kourou, French Guyana in South America. _ India wins six gold, eleven silver and four bronze medals at the Asian Power Lifting Championship in New Delhi. 4 India is the fifth largest borrower with 250 million dollar from the Asian Development Bank, Manila. _ India win both singles and doubles titles beating China 5-0 in Asia Oceania zone Group - 1 Davis Cup in Calcutta. _ Pakistan wins the Pepsi Cup triangular cricket series against India by 123 runs in
the final at Bangalore. _ The Kalinga Prize 1998 for Popularisation of Science is presented jointly to Prof Ennio Candotti of Brazil and Regina Paz Lopez of Phillipines in New Delhi. 8 The Prime Minister inaugurates the Khalsa tri-centenary celebrations at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. _ India win five gold medals each in the men and women events on the opening day of SAARC Judo Championship at Lucknow. 9 India’s exports to the European Union totalled 10.1 billion dollar while imports stood at 9.7 billion dollar in this decade. 10 India’s literacy rate increases to 65 per cent from the 1991 level of 52.2 per cent. _ India and Pakistan form a Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry. _ India assures support to the Palestine President Yaseer Arafat for an independent Palestine state in New Delhi. _ Malayalam short story writer, novelist and the winner of 1984 Jnanpith Award, Thakazhi Sivashankar Pillai (85) dies at Alappuzha. 11 Agni II ballistic missile is successfully test fired from the Inner Wheel island, situated off the Dhamara coast of Orissa. _ India’s tennis duo Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi claim a hat-trick of the double crown at the Gold Flake open tennis tournament at Chennai. _ Film Director Shekhar Kapur’s film Elizabeth wins five awards including the best actress at British Academy of Film and Television Arts in London. 13 India makes a major thrust in its defence preparedness with the successful
test-flying of unmanned air vehicle Nishant from interim test range at Chandipur-on-sea in
Orissa. 14 The President advises the Prime Minister to seek vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha following withdrawal of support by AIADMK. 17 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee resigns following the loss of confidence in Lok Sabha when 269 votes were polled in support of the Government and 270 against. 18 The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited generates an all-time high of nearly 12 billion units of electricity in 1998-99. 19 Indian Railways achieve hundred per cent networking of computerised reservation. 20 The Reserve Bank of India announces a half percentage point cut in cash reserve
ratio (CRR) leaving interest rates unchanged while unveiling its 1999-2000 monetary and
credit policy in Mumbai. 22 The outlawed Ranvir Sena kills 12 persons at Sindani village in Gaya district of Bihar. 23 The Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment is renamed as Ministry of Urban
Development and Ministry of Rural Areas and Employment as the Ministry of Rural
Development. 26 President K.R. Narayanan dissolves the 12th Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet. _ India ranks world’s fifth largest economy in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) after US, China, Japan and Germany, according to the World Bank Statistics released in Washington. _ India agrees in principle to participate in the Trans-Asian Railway link between Europe and South East Asia. _ India’s Atanu Lahiri and Bhagyashree Thipsay emerge as the winners of men’s and women’s title of sixth Commonwealth Chess Championship at Bikaner. _ Foremost Formula car driver Narain Karthikeyan becomes the first Indian to win a race in the British Formula 3 championship in England. 27 The two-day bilateral talks between India and China in Beijing end with the hope of solving their boundary dispute. 28 The Union Cabinet approves the appointment of Netaji Inquiry Commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952. 29 The Action Force on Y2K problem requests all the departments under the Union government to declare entire sector as Y2K compliant before 30 September this year. _ The Supreme Court issues directive that only private non-commercial vehicles
conforming to Euro-II pollution standards can be registered in the National Capital Region
(NCR) beginning 1 April next year. 1 India retain SAFF Coca-Cola cup Football title beating Bangladesh 2-0 at Margao, Goa. 2 The world’s largest solar cooking system becomes operational at the Shanti Van Complex in Rajasthan. 3 Union Government denies US charges of spying for nuclear weapons secrets. _ India is to receive 300 million dollar assistance from UNICEF to accelerate the
realisation of universal child rights. _ The public sector undertaking, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) remains the 11th largest steel producer in the world with a production of 10.4 million tonnes of crude steel in 1998. _ The Union Government approves an expenditure of Rs 78.87 crore on programmes related to the aged during the Ninth Plan period. 5 Goa Assembly elections to be held on 4 June. _ The Union Government bans the CD-ROM titled ‘1998 Grolier Multimedia
Encyclopaedia’ for showing distortions in the map of India. 6 India’s first private inland container depot launched near Gurgaon on the Delhi-Jaipur railway line. _ H.K.Dua, former editor of The Indian Express, The Hindustan Times and The Times of India wins the B. D. Goenka Award for excellence in journalism for 1998. Well-known oceanologist, Dr Syed Zahoor Qasim nominated for Oceanology International-99 Pacific Rim Lifetime Achievement Award in Singapore. 7 India rejects as ‘false and misleading’ reports from Islamabad of an attack
on one of its forward posts in the Siachen region. 8 The US Senate intelligence committee adopts a bill seeking a moratorium on visits by scientists from India and other "sensitive countries" to American nuclear laboratories. _ India condemns NATO aerial strike on Chinese embassy in Belgrade. _ Najam Sethi, a journalist and editor of weekly The Friday Times, is arrested in Lahore for his alleged attempt to "endanger the sovereignty of Pakistan." 9 The Union Government announces "Technology Day Invention Awards". _ The Union Government sanctions Rs 10.4 crore for the Y2K awareness campaign to print and electronic media for this year. _ India is to participate in athletics, boxing, hockey, shooting, tennis and weightlifting in Sydney Olympics - 2000. 11 First National Technology Day commemorated in New Delhi. _ The Governor of West Bengal A.R. Kidwai and Arunachal Pradesh Governor Mata Prasad asked to resign following the lapse of their tenure. _ V.P. Reddy of Shanta Biotechnic receives the National Award for producing India’s first genetically engineered hepatitis B vaccine in New Delhi. _ The Supreme Court upholds the death sentence awarded by a Chennai special court to four of 26 accused in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. _ India witnessed 66 per cent of all tobacco deaths in South-East Asia totalling to 3,83,000 says the World Health Report for 1999. _ Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first Indian sportsperson to adorn the cover of American news weekly Time. 13 The President calls for equipping the Gram Sabhas and other Panchayati Raj Institutions in commemoration of the year of Gram Sabha-1999-2000. _ The Supreme Court declines to extend the time-limit for introduction of Euro-I and Euro-II emission norms for registration of private non-commercial vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR). _ The second volume of Encyclopedia India 2001 is launched internationally in Bangalore. _ Rs 670 crore is earmarked for implementation of Reproductive Child Health Programme during 1990-2000. 14 The President sacks Arunachal Pradesh Governor Mata Prasad and accepts the resignation of West Bengal Governor A. R. Kidwai. 15 In the inaugural match of 7th World Cup Cricket, England beat defending champion Sri Lanka. _ Supreme Court rejects AIADMK Chief J. Jayalalitha’s plea against special courts. _ India remains world’s largest milk producing nation, the output likely to rise to 76 million tonnes during 1999-2000. _ The Food Ministry procures 135 lakh tonnes of wheat from 1 April till date, a 44 per cent increase over last year’s procurement. _ The Political Affairs Committee of the Akali Dal unanimously expels former SGPC Chief, Gurcharan Singh Tohra from the party. _ Supreme Court lifts ceiling on registration of cars from 1 June in the National
Capital Region subject to their conforming to Euro I emission norms. CNG vehicles are
exempted from the restriction 16 India’s textile exports in fiscal year 1998-99 grew
by 1.5 per cent in dollar terms to $12.5 billion, up from $ 12.3 billion in fiscal
1997-98. In rupee terms, the arise is 20.8 per cent. _ At 61, Georgian Mountain guide Lev Sarkisov becomes the oldest person to climb the
Everest. _ Sonia Gandhi’s resignation from the post of Congress President on questioning her prime ministerial candidature by three CWC members due to her foreign origin is not accepted by CWC. _ Four subsidiaries of General Insurance Corporation (GIC), New India Insurance, Oriental Insurance and National Insurance - scale down their average business target to 15 per cent from 17-18 per cent for fiscal year 2000 against the backdrop of ongoing industrial slowdown. _ Three individuals and five institutions selected for the National Award for Child Welfare 1998. 18 Residences of DC and SSP of Kargil along with some Army installations hit by Pakistani shelling. _ Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen, acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, sworn in as the Governor of West Bengal. 20 Zimbabwe beat India by three runs at Leicester in World Cup Cricket series. _ The Government notifies the guidelines for issuing green cards to exporters exporting
50 per cent of their production exceeding rupees one crore annually. _ The Centre decides to constitute an armed forces tribunal for redressal of grievances of personnel of the three services. 22 Indian director Murali Nair receives Golden Camera award for Marana Simhasanam or Throne of Death at the Cannes Film Festival. 23 India jumps back into the World Cup reckoning with 94-run victory over Kenya. _ The Prime Minister distributes National Awards to 49 master craftspersons and weavers. 24 Government decides to raise wages of public sector executives. The total revenue outgo will be Rs 2,070 crore annually. 25 The new International Airport at Nedumbassery, Cochin is dedicated to the nation. 26 Naval version of surface-to-air missile Trishul successfully test-fired from a base at Cochin. _ Indian Air force MiG fighter-bombers and helicopter gunships launch successful strike missions against infiltrators at the heights of Drass sub-sector. _ India launches of the four-stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from
Sriharikota. Apart from placing the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, Oceansat, (IRS-P4) in
its designated orbit, PSLV also puts the South Korean Satellite, Kitsat-3, and the German
Satellite, Tubsat, in their respective orbits. _ India lose two jet fighter aircrafts during airstrikes against infiltrators in the general areas of Kargil, Drass and Batalik. 28 Indian mountaineers, Sange Sherpa and Kushang Dorjee become world’s first climbers to scale Everest from all three sides. _ Pak-backed intruders shot an IAF Mi-17 helicopter by a surface-to-air missile. _ The body of MiG 27 pilot Ajay Ahuja is handed over to Indian officials by Pakistan. 29 The Army evicts Pakistani intruders from Batalik and the key Tiger Hill feature in Drass sub-sector of Kargil. Evidence of Pakistani Army presence in the high altitude region established. _ Prime Minister confers awards on meritorious exporters in computer software and electronic sector. 30 Mizoram with 97 per cent literacy replaces Kerala as India’s most literate State. _ India defeats England by 63 runs at Edgbaston to enter into Super Six of World Cup Cricket series. 31 Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee describes the situation in Kargil as ‘war-like’ and vows to continue the ongoing military action till the infiltrators are flushed out. JUNE 1 India supports the proposed conventions on Child Labour and Maternity Protection at the 87th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva. _ Wheat researcher Sanjaya Rajaram is presented China’s highest award, the ‘Friendship Medal’, for higher wheat yields. _ Bangalore-based Innomedia Technologies is set to provide a technology that can turn a TV into an interactive TV and also make PCs Net-enabled on the same cable. 2 While commissioning INS Mysore in Mumbai, the Prime Minister alerts the Indian Navy to deal with any situation that may arise in the vast seas. _ The Union government takes a decision to ban the broadcasting of Pakistan Television (PTV) for its ‘malicious contents’. _ India’s rationale for air strikes at Kargil areas in Kashmir is well received
abroad. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and France emphasis the need to respect the Line
of Control. _ The Union government decides to restructure all schemes dealing with rural areas. _ The Union government takes a decision to go for massive bamboo cultivation in the north-eastern region including Sikkim. 4 Five hundred Pakistani troops along with 300 militants infiltrate into Kashmir, says a report in the Daily Telegraph, London. It also reports the entry of Pakistani regulars and militants along 16-24 km in the Drass-Kargil region at an altitude of about 11,000 ft. _ The Union government’s tax revenue collection till May stands at Rs 17,153 crore which is 21.3 per cent higher than last year. _ The Central Board of Direct Taxes fixes scrutiny norms for IT retu rns. 6 The National Aids Control Organisation, Department of Bio-technology and Indian
Council for Medical Research are engaged in a project to develop vaccine for AIDS. 7 President K.R. Narayanan presents Certificates of Honour to 15 Sanskrit scholars, 3 scholars each in Arabic and Persian and one in Pali/Prakrit in New Delhi. _ Internet services in the country record a growth of customer base by 20,000 per month and revenue by 150 per cent. _ The Prime Minister in a broadcast to the nation urges Pakistan to ‘undo’ the armed intrusion and emphasises that talks must be on a ‘definite and specific purpose’. 8 India builds its ‘fast attack craft’ T-81 in collaboration with Israel, for coastal surveillance and reconnaissance. _ Former Prime Minister I.K. Gujaral is appointed the first Chancellor of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad. _ India beat Pakistan by 47 runs in Super-Six World Cup Cricket at Old Trafford, Manchester. _ Padmabhushan Dr P. Siva Reddy is selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award by the All India Ophthalmology society for having performed over three lakh cataract operations and 500 mobile surgeries. 9 A six-member Ministry, headed by Luizinho Faleiro, of Congress Party assumes office in Goa. The Governor asks Faleiro to prove his majority in the House within 21 days. 10 Prime Minister dedicates to the nation the Uttar Pradesh Petrochemical Complex at Pata in district Auraiya, set up at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore. _ US Senate approves an amendment to suspend nuclear-related sanctions against India for five years. _ The Union Government raises Rs 18,700 crore by way of disinvestment in public sector enterprises over the last seven years. _ India’s spending on software services for electronics business is poised to touch Rs 3,000 crore by 2002. 12 India tells Pakistan to pull back intruders and re-establish sanctity of LoC at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of both countries in New Delhi. _ India’s campaign for World Cup Cricketr ends following its defeat to New Zealand by 5 wickets in Nottingham, London. 13 Prime Minister visits jawans in Kargil and says India is determined to repulse armed intrusions in Kashmir. _ Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce honours eight Indian-origin Canadians for their contributions in different fields. 14 India and China agree to the establishment of the ‘security dialogue’ and
decide to give impetus to the joint working group. Indian External Affairs Minister
dicusses Kargil situation with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. _ Prof. C.N.R. Rao, President, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre, Bangalore, is the first Indian to be awarded the Centenary Medal and Lecturership by the Royal Society of Chemistry of London. _ The indigenously designed Synchrotron Radiation Source ‘Indus-I’ is commissioned at the Centre for Advanced Technology (CAT), Indore under the Department of Atomic Energy. 15 The Union Cabinet approves the bus service between Calcutta and Dhaka, scheduled to begin from 19 June. 16 Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) takes a decision to slash its internal tariffs by 15-20 per cent, both for new subscribers as well as renewal of accounts. 17 Pakistan admits that its troops are fighting Indian soldiers in the Kargil-Drass sector in Kashmir. _ The Government approves 19 proposals to establish Export Promotion Industrial Parks in the country, providing 75 per cent of the capital expenditure to the States. 19 The Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina Wajed receive ‘friendship’ bus in Dhaka on its inaugural run from Calcutta. 20 Group of Eight (G-8) nations at Cologne endorse India’s position on Kargil and condemn Pakistan for violation of Line of Control. _ India signs an agreement with Bangladesh in Dhaka to provide a credit of Rs 200 crore over the next three years. 21 Germany backs India’s stand on Kargil. _ The Press Council of India censures 11 newspapers and warns two others for "violation of journalistic norms". 22 Prime Minister dedicates to the nation a new Agricultural Insurance Scheme - Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana in New Delhi and says that a Bharatiya Krishi Bima Nigam would be established for the agriculture sector. _ The Cabinet Committee on Prices takes a decision to include onions as an item under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. _ The Union Government approves converting 23 public sector undertakings into Joint Venture (JV) companies with equity participation up to 74 per cent by the JV partner. _ BJP withdraws support to the Haryana Government led by Bansi Lal of Haryana Vikas Party. _ Indian ace soccer player Bhaichung Bhutia is named Asian player of the month for May
after leading India to their second straight South Asian title. _ United States endorse India’s military action in Kargil. The State Department
spokesman in Washington calls Pakistan to withdraw troops from the Indian side. 25 The Election Commission decides to use one lakh Electronic Voting Machines in 46 constituencies in 16 States and one Union Territory. _ India helps Russia to open its first ayurveda centre in Moscow. 26 India is poised to capture 25 per cent of the world gems and jewellery market against the present 1.25 per cent. _ India has more people infected with the AIDS causing HIV than any other country in the world, says UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in London. _ The Housing and Urban Development Corporation is presented a South-Asia region commendation award for providing 1,319 houses to Latur quake victims in Maharashtra in 1993. 27 Doordarshan is set to start a 24-hour news satellite channel from 15 August, announces Minister of Information and Broadcasting in Pune. 28 ‘India will not allow a third country to mediate on Kargil’, assures Prime Minister in the all-party meeting in New Delhi. _ Indian girls win the four-nation women’s under-21 Hockey tournament beating England at New Jersey. _ Details of all 543 Lok Sabha constituencies are available on website at http://www.indiamap.com/elections with poll manifestoes of political parties and 1998 election results. 29 The Union Government announces total exemption of income tax for contributions to
the National Defence Fund from 1 April this year. 30 Prime Minister launches the National Reconstruction Corps Scheme in New Delhi to provide youth with avenues for creative and constructive work. _ The Union Government lifts ban on dealings with Swedish armaments manufacturer A B Bofors. JULY 1 Indians living abroad launch an anti-Pakistan campaign to mobilise world opinion
against the Kargil intrusions. _ The seventh International Shoe Fair begins in New Delhi. Over 50 overseas buyers with 150 Indian shoe and shoe component manufacturers participate. 2 India launches an Information war with the inauguration of a more powerful DD-2
channel in Srinagar encompassed with plans to cover the entire border area with Pakistan. 4 Indian army recaptures strategic Tiger Hill in Drass sector reducing the threat to
the vital Srinagar-highway. A Pakistani soldier is captured in Batalik sector. _ Pakistan-bound North Korean ship, Kuwol-San, is detained at Kandla port on 25 June, for carrying missile-related cargo. 5 Pakistan agrees to withdraw its troops and militants from the Indian side of LoC
after a joint statement is issued by the US President and the Pakistan Prime Minister in
Washington. 6 The Union Cabinet allows the private sector’s entry into FM radio broadcasting services in addition to AIRs FM broadcasting network. Private operators in 40 cities will get the licences. The four metro cities would have 12 channels each. _ MTNL decides to slash Internet tariff by 15 per cent on all the existing three slabs of 100, 250 and 500 hours. _ India secures the first major 385.7 million-dollar World Bank loan after the economic sanctions imposed following the Pokhran nuclear tests in May last year. 7 ‘Military operations in Kargil will continue till the last of the intruders is driven back’ and ‘diplomacy will also be given chance if that enables us to achieve our objectives’, assures Prime Minister at the Chief Ministers’ Conference in New Delhi. _ The Union government approves a package of Welfare measures for the next-of-kin of defence personnel killed or maimed in Kargil operations. 8 USA rejects Pakistan’s contention that it has no control on intruders in Kargil
and its bid to rake up Siachen with the on-going conflict. _ India beat England by 86 runs to clinch the Women’s International Limited-overs series played at Northampton, UK. 10 Doordarshan starts telecasting news bulletins every hour, numbering 11 Hindi, one regional, 10 English and one Urdu bulletin. 11 Pakistan announces its forces have begun withdrawing from Kargil. _ Elections to constitute the 13th Lok Sabha are to be held in five phases in September and October. 12 India sets 16 July as deadline for withdrawal of Pakistani troops north of the Line of Control in Kashmir and suspends air strikes and use of heavy ground weaponry. _ Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a national broadcast renews offer of peace talks with India to ease tensions created by the two-month military showdown in the Kargil sector. _ India moves up into ‘medium human development’ category ranking 132 out of 174 on the Human Development Index. _ Kerala High Court bans smoking in public places responding to a Public Interest Petition. _ National champion Anil Kumar sets a new record in the 200 metres race in the Amateur Athletic Federation of India International Circuit at Chennai. 13 For resumption of bilateral talks with Pakistan, India sets the pre-conditions - complete withdrawal of intruders by 16 July, admission of the inviolability of the LoC and an immediate cessation of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan. _ Pakistan-backed militants seize the residential camp of BSF killing a DIG and three others at Bandipore near Srinagar. _ India ranks 52 in world competitiveness, according to the 1999 Global Competitiveness
Report of the Geneva-based World Economic Forum. 14 The commandos of National Security Guards rescue all 12 persons held hostages by militants in BSF residential camp at Bandipore near Srinagar. _ G.C.Malhotra is appointed new Secretary General of the Lok Sabha. _ India’s Kaptan Singh of Services bags gold medal in the 88th Asian Triathlon
Championship at Sokcho City in South Korea. 16 Eighteen persons killed and over 170 injured when the Chennai-New Delhi GT Express rams into the derailed bogies of a good strain nearMathura. _ Pakistan Army Chief Parvez Musharraf in an interview to BBC admits that its forces did cross the Line of Control in Kargil. _ Following a request from Islamabad, India extends by 24 hours, till July 17 morning, the deadline for withdrawal of Pakistani intruders from the Indian side of the LoC. _ India emerges as the second largest global producer of wheat with 73 million tonnes this year. _ The 46th National Film Awards are announced in New Delhi. Shyam Benegal’s Samar
is declared the best film. Sabana Azmi gets best actress award for film Godmother (Hindi).
Ajay Devgan and Malaylam actor Mammootty share the best actor award for their performances
in Zakhm (Hindi) and Baba Saheb Ambedkar (English). 18 In 17 years, annual rate of inflation falls below the 2 per cent mark to 1.83 per
cent for the week ending 3 July. 20 The Union government raises the minimum support price for various kharif crops. _ Militants kill nineteen people in Doda and Poonch districts. _ Cricket is dropped from the 2002 Commonwealth Games. 21 Janata Dal splits. Sharad Yadav-led Janata Dal, Lok Shakti and Samata Party decide to unite. _ Haryana Chief Minister, Bansi Lal resigns before the scheduled trial of strength. _ Namibian President, Sam Nujoma arrives in New Delhi. 22 Chief Election Commissioner, M.S. Gill asks the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Ministers to stick to national issues and not promote party interest in their Independence Day addresses. 24 Government appoints a committee headed by defence expert K. Subrahmanyam to look
into various aspects related to the Kargil conflict. 25 At ASEAN Regional Forum meet in Singapore, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
conveys External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh her country’s unambiguous support to
India against Pakistan’s blatant agression on Indian territory along the Line of
Control and its sponsorship of terrorism in J&K. _ The Union Government reduces the price of edible oil by 33 per cent. _ The Election Commission restrains the Centre from granting licence to Doordarshan for exclusive operation of Direct-to-Home (DTH). _ Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala wins the vote of confidence in the State
Assembly. _ India agrees to join China in endorsing a treaty aimed at turning Southeast Asia into a nuclear weapons-free zone. _ Sachin Tendulkar is unanimously appointed Indian cricket captain. 30 Government announces a special relief and rehabilitation package of Rs 8 lakh
each for the next of kin of the soldiers, airmen and officers of the Armed Forces killed
during ‘ Operation Vajay’. 1 Indian-born author and scholar Nirad C. Chaudhury, 101, dies in Oxford. _ Inflation rate falls to a two-decade low of 1.62 per cent for the week ending 17 July. 2 About 400 people killed and 469 injured when Brahmaputra Mail and the Awadh-Assam Express collided at the Gaisal railway station. _ Arvind Dave takes over as Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. 3 Election Commission announces change in dates of polling except on 11 September rescheduling the polls for September 5, 18, 25 and October 3 and also decides to have Assembly election in Arunachal Pradesh. _ West Bengal Cabinet unanimously approves renaming of the State as ‘Bangla’ and of its capital Calcutta as ‘Kolkata’. 5 Wadhwa Commission set up to probe the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Orissa rules out the involvement of any Hindu outfit in the crime. _ Government raises Rs 7.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, the compensation amount for families of soldiers killed during war or war-like engagements. _ Government approves an assured career progression scheme which enables non-officer employees to get two time-bound salary grade raises. 8 Sharad Yadav-led Janata Dal, Lok Shakti and Samata Party unite to fight the coming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls under a common banner. 9 Doordarshan announces the conversion of its main channels into a round-the-clock affair from 15 August. 10 Indian Air Force shot down a Pakistan Navy reconnaissance aircraft for violating Indian airspace in Gujarat’s Kori Creek area, killing 16 personnel on board. 11 Arjuna Awards for the year 1998 are announced. _ The last complete solar eclipse of the millennium is visible in Gujarat. 13 India offers to release eight Pakistani prisoners of war held captive during Kargil
conflict on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day. - Four Army personnel, including three posthumously get Param Vir Chakra for displaying valour of the highest order during Kargil war. Nine Mahavir Chakra, 55 Vir Chakra are also announced. _ Pakistan publicly acknowledges the role of its armed forces in Kargil by honouring 64 personnel with gallantry awards. 15 Addressing the nation on 53rd Independence Day, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
announces that new Agni-II long-range ballistic missiles would be integrated into the
defence arsenal. 19 Election Commission asks political parties to refrain from making the role of the armed forces in Kargil conflict a poll campaign issue. It also debars government from screening any documentary on Kargil till the Lok Sabha poll ends. _ United States and other G-8 members decide to defer non-basic human needs funding by international financial institutions to India. _ Government allows banks to enter into forward trading in gold. 20 Delhi Police seize from three terrorists over 50 kg of RDX in the capital. _ Election Commission bans political parties from issuing advertisements on the electronic media , state-owned, private, satellite as well as terrestrial. _ Government allows registration of private insurance firms under the Companies Act,
1956. _ Secretary-General Kofi Annan urges governments and voluntary groups to redouble aid efforts for Turkey earthquake victims. 21 Pope John Paul II to visit India from 5-8 November. 24 Union Government decides to wind up 10 loss-making public sector units in the country. 25 Government of India approves in principle, the ICICI’s proposed international equity offering of up to $ 315 million on the condition that the total foreign equity shareholding in the financial institution should not exceed 49 per cent. 26 Pakistan files a complaint with the United Nations over shooting down of its naval aircraft by India on 10 August and urges to send a "fact-finding" mission. _ Indian Army hands over bodies of five Pakistani soldiers killed during Kargil conflict. 27 India hands over eight Pakistani Prisoners of War to the International Committee for the Red Cross. _ The National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority revises prices of 16 drug formulations
including Ventorlin syrup and antibiotic tetracycline. _ Sri Lanka beat world cup champions Australia to lift the triangular cricket tournament in Colombo. SEPTEMBER 1 Indian Oil Corporation begins supply of ultra low sulphur diesel with sulphur content
of 0.05 per cent in Delhi. _ Arjuna Awards presented to meritorious sportspersons by President K.R. Narayanan in New Delhi. 2 Government decides to divest one million shares of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, Rs 750 each through a public offer. 3 A separate corps headquarters of the Army becomes functional in Ladakh. 4 Indigenously developed anti-tank missile nag is test-fired from the Interim Test Range at Chandipur. 5 Nearly 55 per cent polling recorded in 145 Lok Sabha constituencies in 16 States/UTs during the first phase. 6 Government mandates cable operators to carry at least two Doordarshan channels on the prime band in satellite mode. 8 British-Indian musician and percussionist Talvin Singh wins 1999 Mercury music prize, Britain’s most prestigious music award. _ West Indies beats India in the final of the Singapore Challenge Trophy Triangular Cricket Series in Singapore. 9 Mahesh Bhupathi and Ai Sugiyama of Japan win the mixed doubles title in the US Open Tennis Championship New York. 11 Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi lose the US Open tennis double finals in New York. _ 56 per cent polling recorded in 123 Lok Sabha constituencies in eight States during
the second phase. 13 Supreme Court gives ultimatum to industries in Delhi to treat their effluents by 1
November or face closure. _ Jammu & Kashmire government permits a Srinagar hotel to open India’s first casino. 15 World Hindi Conference begins in London. 17 Lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri (81) passes away in Mumbai. _ All defence installations and research organisations put on maximum alert following the arrest of eight suspected agents of Pakistan’s ISI. 18 Fortyeight persons killed in third phase of Lok Sabha elections. 19 The Government issues modified licence to MTNL to offer cellular services in Mumbai and Delhi. _ A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court rules that candidates getting jobs through reservation quota can not be entitled to seniority over the general category employees as a matter of right. 20 The Indian Air Force loses 20 fighter aircrafts this year. _ The Law Commission recommends that Independent candidates be barred from contesting elections to the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies. It also suggests full five-year term for legislature. 21 The former cricket captain Kapil Dev is named coach of the national team. 22 ICICI becomes the first Indian company to list on the New York Stock Exchange with American depository shares. 23 India pulls out of Asia Cup Hockey Championship to be held in Lahore in November. _ To speed up trial in criminal cases, the Supreme Court makes mandatory for the trial courts to close prosecution evidence within three years of framing charges against the accused. 24 Karnataka rejects the Centre’s recommendation for releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. 25 Fiftyone per cent electorate in 74 Lok Sabha constituencies cast their votes in the fourth phase of the polling. 26 Nine scientists selected for this year’s Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award. 27 The Bombay High Court holds Harshad Mehta guilty of forgery and misappropriation of Rs 38.97 crore of Maruti Udyog Limited. _ The former Gujarat Governor Krishna Pal Singh (77) passes away. 28 India and the United States agree to coordinate their efforts to combat terrorism. _ The Law Commission recommends creation of an Armed Forces Appellate Tribunal to
entertain appeals against court martials. 29 The indigenously built unmanned aircraft Nishant is successfully test-fired from the
interim test range at Chandipur-on-sea. 30 India successfully test-fires its multi-target surface-to-air missile Akash from the Interim Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea. |
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